Clifm
6.7#7 in terminal file managersFree planFree planAndroidLinuxmacOS
VisitClifm vs nnn
What both publish
| Fact | Clifm | nnn |
|---|---|---|
| Archive support | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-pane layout | No | No |
| File operations | Features include bookmarks, search, file selection, tags, filters, previews, bulk renaming, archiving, trash, and file opening. | It can analyze disk usage, batch rename, launch apps, pick files, and copy, move, delete, archive, and link selections. |
| Installation | The README says Linux binary packages are available for most major distributions through the OpenSUSE Build System and gives source installation instructions for Linux and BSD. | The project offers a statically linked binary and packages, and can also be compiled from source. |
| Integrations | The project documents fzf tab completion and a plugin that can display Git status before each prompt. | Remote mounts can use sshfs or rclone, and nnn supports desktop openers, shell integration, and FreeDesktop-compliant trash utilities. |
| Intended users | The README presents Clifm as a command line file manager for people who prefer shell commands to a traditional terminal file manager interface. | The project describes nnn as unobtrusive and designed for smart workflows, and documents beginner and power-user quickstarts. |
| License | The project is licensed under GPL version 2 or later. | The GitHub repository identifies the project license as BSD-2-Clause. |
| Linux support | Yes | Yes |
| macOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | The project lists Linux, Termux on Android, BSD variants, macOS, Solaris/Illumos, Haiku, and Cygwin/MinGW as supported environments. | The project says nnn runs on Linux, macOS, Android through Termux, Cygwin, and WSL, among other environments. |
| Preview pane | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | The project says Clifm collects zero data and makes no connection to the outside world. | The project describes nnn as privacy-aware, with no unconfirmed user data collection. |
Clifm plans
- ClifmFree
nnn plans
- FreeFree
Pick Clifm if…
Clifm suits people who prefer file management through shell commands rather than a traditional terminal file manager interface. It is also suited to users who want configurable shell conveniences and file tools such as previews, tags, and bulk renaming.
Pick nnn if…
nnn suits people who want file management from a terminal, from beginners to power users. Its plugins and optional integrations also fit users who want to extend file workflows.